Autograph letter (postcard), signed ‘Marcel Proust’, 1 page, 12mo, [Évian-les-Bains, France], n.d. [circa 1899-1905], on postcard titled Abbaye de Maraiche sur Evian et la Dent d’Oche, densely inscribed in a small hand, reading [translation]: <‘Madame, / Before leaving Evian I wanted to thank you for the diptych which was dear to me above all for its witty caption, but I could only find “Views of the Cachat spring” or “The Bar” etc. in exchange for noble images of a quiet, ornamented life, that proximity of “malaise” and “Moissac” being such a good symbol for that combination of artistic taste and native simplicity which are two of the elements of your considerable charm. All those things being difficult to write on a postcard where I still would want to say many more which, for the convenience of the postal journey, can be summed up, wrapped up in the more portable phrase of my very respectful affection, / Marcel Proust’>, framed with a bronze medallion from the 1971 Centennial celebration of Proust’s birth by A. Jaeger
Proust frequently summered in the city of Evian from 1899 to 1905. The landscape had a great effect on his imagination and later served as the model for his ‘Balbec baths’ in
h. 3-1/2 w. 5-1/2 in.
overall: 10-1/2 x 16-1/2 in. (frame)